has been going for

USAGE SUMMARY

"has been going for" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is often used to refer to the duration of an activity or event that started in the past and is still ongoing. Example: "The company has been going for over 50 years, making it one of the oldest businesses in the city." In this sentence, "has been going for" is used to express the length of time the company has been operational.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

It has been going for 50 years.

The Economist

"Oxfam has been going for the last 70 years.

The Guardian

The Dollar Shave Club has been going for nearly five years.

Independent

The fundraising charity with that name has been going for more than 50 years.

The Times

It is a unique experiment within the prison system, which has been going for 50 years.

The Guardian - Opinion

The investigation has been going for 20 months and from him, not a word.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

"Sherlock has been gone for two years.

Independent

My husband has been gone for 7 months.

The New Yorker

For whatever reason, he has been gone for 20 years.

The New York Times

"Inventory has been gone for more than a year.

The New York Times

Grace Paley has been gone for ten years now.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been going for" to clearly indicate the length of time that something has been happening or in existence. For instance, "The festival has been going for 20 years, attracting visitors worldwide."

Common error

Avoid using "has been going for" when referring to something that has already stopped. Instead, use "had been going for" or "went on for" to indicate a completed duration. For example, instead of "The meeting has been going for two hours yesterday", say "The meeting had been going for two hours yesterday".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been going for" functions as a verb phrase indicating the duration of an activity or state. Ludwig confirms that it's a correct and commonly used phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Academia

6%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "has been going for" is a versatile and commonly used expression to denote the duration of an ongoing activity or state. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent appearance across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While alternatives such as "has been underway for" and "has been operating for" exist, "has been going for" serves as a straightforward and effective way to communicate the length of time something has persisted, according to Ludwig.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been underway for

Emphasizes the active process of something happening.

has been in effect for

Focuses on the duration of a rule, law, or system.

has been operating for

Highlights the continuous functioning of an organization or system.

has been running for

Implies a continuous period of activity or existence.

has been ongoing for

Stresses the uninterrupted nature of an event or process.

has lasted for

Focuses on the total duration of an event or situation.

has persisted for

Highlights the continuing existence despite challenges or obstacles.

has existed for

Simply states the duration of something's existence.

has prevailed for

Suggests a continuing dominance or influence.

has endured for

Emphasizes the long-term survival or tolerance of something.

FAQs

How can I use "has been going for" in a sentence?

Use "has been going for" to describe the duration of something that started in the past and continues to the present. For example, "The project "has been going for" six months and is nearing completion".

What are some alternatives to "has been going for"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "has been underway for", "has been in effect for", or "has been operating for".

When should I use "has been going for" versus "went on for"?

"Has been going for" indicates an ongoing process, while "went on for" describes a completed one. For example, "The discussion "went on for" hours" implies the discussion is over, whereas "The discussion "has been going for" hours" suggests it's still happening.

Is it correct to say "has been going on for" instead of "has been going for"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct and can be used interchangeably in many contexts. "Has been going on for" is slightly more emphatic but essentially conveys the same meaning of a continuous duration.